Tonys' Pics

tony_k_orlando · February 17, 2006

5 gal buckets work well for me....

I also use 9qt waste basket containers for my hydro setup with excellant results.

PLUS I grow a lot of corn in 10 gal totes too !

Hope these pics load FAST and easy. This is my first pic post here!

tony

tony_k_orlando · February 18, 2006

I am bummed, I meant to post this in the container forum!

can someone delete this huge post ?

thanks!

Tony

**Mischka** · February 18, 2006

Moved to Growing in Containers :wink:

**mdvpc** · February 18, 2006

Tony-Looking very good-glad you are over here to contribute to the container section cause. What variety is in the photo growing in 5 gallon? What are you using for fert? I have seed for a couple new dwarves if you are interested-Tricot Czech and Beefsteak Early Dwarf. Let me know.

cottonpicker · February 18, 2006

tony... IMPRESSIVE!! Thanks for posting theose great pics. What variety of corn is that in the tote?

tony_k_orlando · February 18, 2006

Cottonpicker,

The corn is a variety known as "Early and Often" by Burpee.

It grew very well in the tote considering I had sooo many plants mashed so close to each other.

Only downside was the tote would blow over easily as the plants made it very top heavy.

A stake in the ground solved that lil problem in a flash!

Tony

tony_k_orlando · February 18, 2006

Hi Michael,

The matos in the 5 gal bucket are Andrew Raharts believe it or not ! They did an outstanding job in the 5 gal bucket.

Because I do hydro, thanks to the nematodes for forcing me in that direction, I use fert sparingly but do refrain from UREA containing ferts. Urea nitrogen requires soil borne bacterias to break down the urea and convert it to usable nitrogen. In hydro, because no soil, there aren't the proper bacteria. I have made it somewhat a point to not use urea and perhaps this is the key to my own personal success.

I have attached a pic of the fert I use that has ALL the major/minor nutes needed for good health. It can be bought almost anywhere here. I get mine at W-mart.

Please note the NO UREA in the upper right hand corner. The reason it is suggested for orchids is that there is no soil usually associated with orchids, hence nothing to supply or breakdown the urea.

I fert at about half strength just about but not every time I water the plants. It seems to work out well for me.

Thanks for the seed offer! I will pass on them for the moment. I am focusing heavily on grafting various matos onto various resistant rootstocks now. As much as I like hydro growing and in containers, its bugs me to death (no pun there) that the nematodes usually have won in the past. This season and next will determine if I have been able to overcome them with the grafting process. As you know, I still hate raw tomatos, therefor I have to find entertainment in growing them or overcoming obsticles as in the ground pests I have here.

I hope you have a rain check system as I will surely need some new varieties in the future to turn into 'frankenmato' with my grafting (if it all pans out)!

Hope this helps some.....

angelique · February 18, 2006

Mmm. Tony. The tomatoes and corn look wonderful. There is nothing like fresh corn. I have never tried growing corn...Maybe this is the year to try.

sweetwm007 · February 18, 2006

tony- very nice pictures. i always enjoy your projects and the craftsmanship on all you projects is superb.

keep us posted on your grafting. looks like it is going to be a bust this year for me trying to obtain grafting clips. ain't nothing easy here!
the best
william

tony_k_orlando · February 18, 2006

William,

how about trying to make your own clamps like I did when I first started out.

Tape works real well BUT it disturbs the joint when trying to remove it, I no longer use tape.

Check the pics and let your mind run wild.

Tony[/img]

sweetwm007 · February 19, 2006

tony- thanks for the info.
william

MsCowpea · February 19, 2006

Beautiful pics and thanks for tips about fert. and tubing for grafting. farkee/MCP

TomatoDon · February 19, 2006

Tony,

Do you get good pollination with your corn with this method? They say for the home gardener to plant them in bunches like you do in order to get the needed pollination. How many ears do you get per plant? I grow Sweet G 90, and have three rows in a 4 X 12 bed, about 60 plants, and get about 60 ears. At least sometimes I do. One year the blackbirds swarmed in just as the corn was ready, and got it all! You should have seen that little corn patch!

Don

tony_k_orlando · February 19, 2006

Hi Don,

Did you ever notice what corn pollen tastes like? It tastes every bit like corn! What I would do is take a sheet of paper and tip a tassel over it and shake the pollen out daily and distribute it to the other plants one at a time. I started using a small brush but then simply started just pouring it or blowing it onto the other silk as I poured it. Needless to say, THIS is how I learned what the pollen tastes like.

In the little garden patch I have, I grow it close together and let nature take its own course now because she seems to do just as well, BUT when I do inspect the corn growth and do notice pollen starting, I will distribute it around a lil by hand too if I am not in a hurry.

I would say most of my ears are full and with the burpee variety mentioned above, I get approx 3 ears per stalk THEN I understand it is supposed to produce AGAIN ! I didn't know this and am still not sure I believe this is possible.

I am all out of that variety this season and have planted some more corn, and didn't really pay any attention to which went where in the garden. I have had very satisfying results so I dont get too concerned anymore as when FIRST trying to grow some.

Growing it in the container was not intentional, the container was slated for tomatoes.....

Glad I tried though, May have to get out there and start one up now again!

tony

kevn357 · February 22, 2006

Very impressive pic's with such small containers.

I might try to grow some corn this year in my 12 gallon tote!

February 17, 2006	#1
tony_k_orlando Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 17	Here are some Andrew Rahart in a 5 gal bucket 5 gal buckets work well for me.... I also use 9qt waste basket containers for my hydro setup with excellant results. PLUS I grow a lot of corn in 10 gal totes too ! Hope these pics load FAST and easy. This is my first pic post here! tony

February 18, 2006	#3
Mischka Tomatoville® Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Bay State Posts: 3,207	Moved to Growing in Containers :wink: __________________ Mischka One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

February 18, 2006	#4
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Tony-Looking very good-glad you are over here to contribute to the container section cause. What variety is in the photo growing in 5 gallon? What are you using for fert? I have seed for a couple new dwarves if you are interested-Tricot Czech and Beefsteak Early Dwarf. Let me know. __________________ Michael

February 18, 2006	#5
cottonpicker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SE PA..near Valley Forge Posts: 839	tony... IMPRESSIVE!! Thanks for posting theose great pics. What variety of corn is that in the tote? __________________ "Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause". Victor Hugo

February 19, 2006	#12
MsCowpea Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S. FLorida / Zone 10 Posts: 369	Beautiful pics and thanks for tips about fert. and tubing for grafting. farkee/MCP __________________ "When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest we inherit their work." Carl Huffaker

February 18, 2006	#8
angelique Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Rocklin, California Posts: 501	Mmm. Tony. The tomatoes and corn look wonderful. There is nothing like fresh corn. I have never tried growing corn...Maybe this is the year to try.

February 18, 2006	#9
sweetwm007 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: yellville, arkansas Posts: 29	tony- very nice pictures. i always enjoy your projects and the craftsmanship on all you projects is superb. keep us posted on your grafting. looks like it is going to be a bust this year for me trying to obtain grafting clips. ain't nothing easy here! the best william

February 19, 2006	#13
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,521	Tony, Do you get good pollination with your corn with this method? They say for the home gardener to plant them in bunches like you do in order to get the needed pollination. How many ears do you get per plant? I grow Sweet G 90, and have three rows in a 4 X 12 bed, about 60 plants, and get about 60 ears. At least sometimes I do. One year the blackbirds swarmed in just as the corn was ready, and got it all! You should have seen that little corn patch! Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

February 22, 2006	#15
kevn357 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Parma, OH Posts: 147	Very impressive pic's with such small containers. I might try to grow some corn this year in my 12 gallon tote!